AOPA World Mastercard®

AOPA World Mastercard® Review

The AOPA World Mastercard is a cash back credit card that rewards cardholders for purchases with AOPA and its partners. Cardholders can save money on aviation purchases and enjoy up to 4% cash back rewards, a low intro rate, and no annual fee.  

Earning Rewards with the AOPA World Mastercard®

AOPA members can use the AOPA World Mastercard to earn a variety of exclusive, lucrative cash back rewards designed specifically for pilots. Commerce Bank’s design for this card is to appeal to pilots who are active in their field by giving incentives for purchases directly with AOPA and its affiliates, as well as everyday spending.  Here’s the breakdown: 

And here is a little more information on each bonus category:

• 4% Cash Back on Select AOPA Purchases:Cardholders will earn a whopping 4% cash back for every dollar they spend directly with the card’s namesake. Advertising, aviation insurance, PAC donations and AFI Donations are excluded from this perk. This is the first bonus category for this card. 
• 3% Cash Back with Select AOPA Partners: Pilots can also earn 3% cash back every time they use their card to purchase with select AOPA partners. This perk will catch your eye if you regularly shop with these vendors. This is the second bonus category for this card. 
• 2% Cash Back on FBOs, Fuel, and Flight Schools: For each purchase made with fixed base operators (FBOs), cardholders earn 2% cash back. This rate also applies to aviation and auto fuel purchases, and money spent at flight schools. If you regularly fuel your jet or your car on the way to the tarmac, these rewards can help your overall cash back totals soar.
• 1% Cash Back on All Other Purchases:The AOPA World Mastercard rewards every eligible purchase with 1% cash back. It doesn’t matter if you’re buying Amelia Earhart’s biography or a miniature replica of the first Wright plane – you’ll earn 1% cash back each time you swipe your card. 

Each cash back 1% reward is equivalent to 1 point. There is a quarterly bonus point cap of 2,500 points, meaning that a maximum of 2,500 bonus points will be awarded per calendar quarter, for each of the bonus categories mentioned above. Once this cap is reached, all purchases earn 1% cash back. There is no limit to the number of non-bonus points a cardholder can earn each year. This process is repeated each quarter.  

Not every transaction is eligible for rewards. Purchases made using Near Field Communication (NFC), virtual wallets, or similar technology may not be eligible for bonus points. Likewise, transactions such as cash advances, balance transfers, convenience checks, finance charges, traveler’s checks, money orders, and gaming chips do not qualify for rewards. 

Redeeming Rewards with the AOPA World Mastercard®

The AOPA World Mastercard features a flexible rewards program. This means that cash back rewards can be converted to points and redeemed for various great rewards. Cardholders can opt for: 

• Cash Back (applied as a statement credit) 
• Merchandise 
• Gift Cards 
• Travel Discounts and Credits 

A minimum of 2,500 points is required to redeem for cash back rewards. Values for redemption items like merchandise, gift cards, and travel may vary. To redeem rewards, cardholders must log into their online account. 

World Mastercard® Benefits

AOPA World Mastercard cardholders are eligible for some exclusive (and appealing) perks and benefits from Mastercard. These include things like: 

Competitive Interest Rates and Fees

Thanks to no annual fee, there are no extra charges to cause turbulence with the cash-back savings cardholders earn from the AOPA World Mastercard. Since nothing might offset those rewards, pilots can focus on more important things like aviation and enjoying the Mastercard perks accompanying the card. 

The World Mastercard from AOPA also features a unique introductory bonus APR period: 1.99% for the first six billing cycles after opening an account. Applicable to both balance transfers and purchases, this introductory APR will help people who hold debt on another credit card pay it down without accruing significantly higher interest charges. Although 1.99% is higher than 0%, this is still a competitive introductory APR compared to the standard interest rate that applies to an existing balance on another card.  

Commerce Bank Ratings

What’s it like to live with Commerce Bank as a credit card issuer and bank? Here is a selection of reviews for the Midwestern bank:

Should You Apply for the AOPA World Mastercard® from Commerce Bank?

The AOPA World Mastercard is a powerful financial tool for pilots and instructors who are affiliated with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, thanks to exclusive perks with the organization that are only available with this card. It allows pilots to earn cash back from many of the aviation-related purchases they already regularly make like airplane fuel, AOPA membership fees, pilot protection services, and gear. Cardholders can earn unlimited rewards and enjoy travel perks from Mastercard as they soar to ever-higher rewards. 

However, this does not hold much value for anyone who is not involved in aviation. Most of the cash-back rewards are not useful for anyone who is not a member of AOPA. Luckily, there are other cash-back credit cards with similar reward structures designed for everyday spending – no pilot’s license necessary.

Another thing to consider for folks interested in the AOPA World Mastercard is its introductory APR period. While 1.99% interest for six billing cycles can help a cardholder avoid big interest charges, there are lots of cash back credit cards that feature an intro APR of 0%. Overall, the AOPA World Mastercard® can take off in the right hands – and pilots will love its perks. For everyone else, a different cash back card is likely a better fit.